TheCarey ConnectionA News Magazine for The Carey School CommunityVolume Ten Summer 2019

Featuring:90 Years of Carey HistoryThe Music ProgramA Day in Life of the Carey GardenPeople of Color ConferenceOur Annual Alumni Nightand more...

ContributorsZita Agazzi Sherry Anoush Mark Bevan Resham Bharwani Audra Carli Heidi Chang Daniel Chanin Isabelle Chiang Lindsay Folk Lori Frediani Ida Gruber Gary Kiang Jordana LenihanHelen Lew Duncan LyonKarena Martin Danitra NashNeely Norris Kam O’Horo

1 Letter from the Head of School2 Letter from the President of the

Board of Trustees4 90 Years of Carey History6 The Carey School Music Program8 A Year in Review10 A Day in the Life of The Carey

School Garden12 From the Desk of Ida Gruber14 People of Color Conference18 World Language Week20 One Carey22 The History and Evolution of the

Spaghetti Dinner24 Bringing Them Back to the Nest27 Alumni Spotlight28 Class Notes31 Flying Eagles32 Class of 2019 Graduates

In This Issue

Andrew PepperDayna Shon Myra MalikMaya Tussing-Adkinson Shaylona WheelerTracy White

PhotographerVeronica Riedel

Designer Eddie Lee

EditorsTracy WhiteResham Bharwani

1928 was an inopportune time to start a school. Carey’s first decade occurred during the Great Depression. The school that emerged from those hard times had elements of grit and joy that every ensuing Carey generation would recognize. As we celebrate our 90th year, we have enjoyed looking back at the school’s journey, especially the ways it has simultaneously mirrored and stood out as an ideal for the society it served. From its earliest days, there has always been an aspect of if only the rest of the world could be a bit more like Carey…

In researching the school’s history, we uncovered artifacts such as a fascinating television interview with Mary T. Carey and Claire Carey Willard. We learned that the school colors and eagle mascot debuted in the 1989-1990 school year, the first when the school was governed by a Board of Trustees. We came across volumes of Board minutes, including a key set from a Board retreat in September, 2005. The retreat outlined the hopes and fears of those trustees at that time. Here are a few:

Hopes

That the school will grow its next level of academic excellence and size.

That students and parents will be prepared for the transition to middle school.

That we see the results of changes taking place.

Andrew PepperDayna Shon Myra MalikMaya Tussing-Adkinson Shaylona WheelerTracy White

PhotographerVeronica Riedel

Designer Eddie Lee

EditorsTracy WhiteResham Bharwani

Fears

That the economy of the Bay Area will decline and fewer families will be able to afford an independent education.

That the school will lose its small town community.

That the school will be unable to keep our diverse community over time.

The pages that follow address many of these aspirations and concerns. As Audra Carli’s accreditation article shows, over time, the school has achieved next level status. The CAIS team rated us “effective” or “highly effective” in all 16 chapters of the report. The alumni features in the magazine attest that our graduates are prepared for life beyond the “school on the Alameda. ” The interview with Virginia Taylor reminds us that the great tradition of Spaghetti Dinner is as vibrant today as it has ever been and the small town feel is still evident. We now know that the economy went down in the years after 2005 and went up thereafter. At all times, affordability and socio-economic diversity have been valued and, as the OneCarey and Admission reports highlight, diversifying our family and professional populations remain in focus.

Throughout its 90 years, The Carey School has been an imperfect place, wonderfully so. But as these pages show, the school’s evolution reflects the spirit of endurance and continuous improvement that has been here all along.

Sincerely,

Duncan Lyon Head of School

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I remember when I first set foot on the Carey campus seven years ago as part of an admissions tour. The one aspect of Carey that really sold us was when we met the fifth graders. “Those fifth graders are real people! They are so thoughtful and they speak with so much poise and confidence,” I remember saying to my wife. We wanted our daughter to grow up to be like those fifth graders that we saw on tour that day. Now I know how the magic happens.

Some of the magic is because of the facilities. In 2014, we opened our new multipurpose space, the Hall of Feathers, the early childhood education center, the administrative office Angell wing, and new world language classrooms. In 2015, after extensive research on the evolving approach to technology education, our traditional computer room was re-imagined as a creative tinkering space, fondly named the Thinkering Lab. In 2016, the undeveloped slope between the lower playground and the upper turf field was transformed into the Hillside playground, complete with a tower slide, a meandering path, water features, rope climbs, and a small performance stage. In 2017, we dedicated the Gates Garden, a working garden and lovely gathering area at the far end of the campus. The Board spent this past year planning for a new two-story building to replace the single story 1st and 2nd grade classrooms.

Much of the magic is our community. We continue to see 100% parent and faculty participation in our annual fund with a new record set every year. During this year’s Fund-A-Need for financial aid, we exceeded the goal for the community to raise enough money to support a single student’s tuition assistance for kindergarten through fifth grade. It was such an inspiring moment to see so many paddles in the air that night. In the end, we

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Board of Trustees

Executive CommitteeGary Kiang, President Jean Chiang, Vice President Jennifer Chung, Secretary Caroline Lee, Treasurer

Board MembersLydia Alexander-KapoorHeidi ChangVijay CulasRobert DykesMiguel EspinosaMina FisherLindsay FolkJack HerndonEric KimAllison KeenanKathy LayendeckerJulie LeeBill Lenihan Mike MarksonCurt MetzgerKim PepperLindsay RamsayKelly SortinoConsuela StewartSarah Suleman

raised more than twice the goal, displaying the core value within our community that a diverse student population improves the educational experience for all of our children. In addition, the Board has focused on building our endowment to help ensure Carey’s permanence and financial strength for the next 90 years and beyond.

Part of the Carey magic is careful planning. To get us started on our next 90 years, the Board has spent the year crafting the school’s next Strategic Plan, which will begin in the 2019-2020 school year. This plan will hold true to the mission and values of the school while evolving to meet the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century. As a Board, we are excited to share our work from this past year with the broader Carey community in the months and years to come.

Now that my daughter is finishing up her fifth grade year at Carey, I look at her and I am so amazed that she has become a “real person,” just like those fifth graders that we saw on our admissions tour seven years ago. The Carey School is truly a magical place that inspires our children to achieve their full potential. We owe a great debt of gratitude to James and Mary Carey who started this enterprise 90 years ago with a clear vision and core values. We are also so thankful to the wonderful teachers and administration who uphold these values and carry on the mission of the school.

Congratulations to The Carey School on 90 amazing years! I have no doubt that the next 90 years will be even more inspiring.

Sincerely,

Gary Kiang President of the Board of Trustees

“The Carey School is truly a magical place that inspires our children to achieve their full potential.”

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In 1928, San Mateo was a quiet, rural suburb with open fields for miles around. Mary Carey was a former school teacher from Chicago who wanted her two daughters, Mary Therese and Claire, to have a community-based preschool learning experience. And so The Carey School was founded as a preschool with an initial enrollment of 10 children from the neighborhood. As the children grew older, the school added an elementary education program and continued to grow.

90 Years of Carey History By Gary Kiang

Starting a new school in the year 1928 would prove to be a less than ideal situation. In October 1929, the start of The Carey School’s 2nd year in existence, the stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. Over the next decade, Mary Carey’s core values of respect, kindness, and personal responsibility were the foundation that allowed the school to survive and grow through the most difficult decade in US economic history.

1928

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90 Years of Carey HistoryWithin the first few years of Carey School history, the students found themselves in an extremely socio-economically diverse community. Some parents lost jobs, some families lost fortunes. This is when Mr. and Mrs. Carey established the Carey School’s initial financial aid policies to help members of the community continue to send their children to the school.

In an interview, Claire Carey recalled her mother saying to the students during those difficult times, “No matter who you are, each student has the duty to treat others with respect, dignity and kindness. We are all part of the same community.”

These words are part of our mission statement today and ones that make The Carey School the special place that it is and will be for many more years to come.

NowLogo created by Sophie Budman, 5th grade

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The Carey School Music ProgramSee what you hear, and hear what you see

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The mantra of the Carey School music program is: “see what you hear, and hear what you see.” Music is a language and our end goal is for our students to be fluent in it, and matriculate to middle school able to find meaning in what they see and hear. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to look at a manuscript of a great work by Mozart or Beethoven and be able to hear it in your head? The goal is for all of our students to accomplish this and continue to grow with this incredible gift.

Our program is implemented using a multi-disciplinary approach: an amalgamation of Orff-Schulwerk, Kodaly, and Dalcroze methodologies. We utilize these internationally recognized approaches to teaching music and movement because we recognize that children are naturally playful, exploratory, tactile, and inquisitive. The emphasis on imitation and improvisation celebrate these innate musical abilities, while also building the foundation for future development.

Our program recognizes the many doors through which a child can enter the musical world, and provides opportunities for aural, visual, and kinesthetic learners to feel successful. We nurture the whole musician, encouraging students to hear, feel, understand, and physically express musical concepts. This contributes to children’s ability to synthesize the intellect, senses, emotions, and body in ways that have important implications in their total educational experience. The social dimensions of making music in a group, as well as frequent

performance opportunities in assemblies, informal gatherings, and presentations for parents, are also central to the music program.

With performance being a valued component of our program, we have had a long standing tradition of Operetta being one of the culminating events of the school year. In the past, Operetta has been more of a musical revue; a type of multi-act theatrical entertainment that was typically songs and dances from different musicals strung together by a theme. Since coming to Carey, we have shifted Operetta into being a full-fledged musical; one in which we can tell a single, continuous story through music and incorporate dialogue, choreography, and costuming. To put on a stage production as an entire school community has been an extremely fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Moving forward, in an effort to continue to expand our program, we are excited to plan the launch of The Carey School String Academy for students in grades 1-5. A young string players’ beginning months and years are some of the most important in their development, and The String Academy aims to give students the best possible start. The String Academy will aim to provide a supportive social context for learning, reminding students

that music-making requires communication, strengthens community, and like most artistic practices, is an experience made richer by sharing with others.

Stay tuned for more information coming soon about joining The String Academy this Fall!

By Dayna Shon

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A Y

EAR

IN R

EVIE

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Our students share information on how to receive a “golden feather” with the accreditation team.

Melanie Baier, Lower School Head at La Jolla Country Day School, introduces herself at our Student Assembly welcoming the accreditation team.

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In February, The Carey School hosted the accreditation team from the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The team included administrators from other independent schools in California. Their visit was the culmination of a year and a half of smart, hard work by faculty, staff, administration, and the Board of Trustees, where we examined our practices, what we do well, and where we would like to do better.

The self-study process, a central part of the accreditation review, began in the fall of 2017 and I had the pleasure of serving as coordinator for the process. It is a comprehensive document written for CAIS and WASC, designed as an exercise in deep reflection and evaluation about every facet of the school - mission, students, program, finances, and facilities, among others. It celebrates what we do well and calls out the areas where we need more focus and attention. We set up a Steering Committee for the self-study that included the following staff and faculty: Nate Geer, Jennifer DeSousa, Zita Agazzi, Westy Higgins, Hillary Katz, Neely Norris and myself.

For the program chapters of the self-study, all faculty and administration were assigned to chapter groups led by captains. Through the 2017-2018 school year, chapter groups met during faculty meetings and after school to gather data, reflect, and draft answers to questions. The administration and board chapters, led by Head of School,

Duncan Lyon, followed the same protocol. In spring of 2018, we created a working draft of the entire document that went to the Steering Committee for a top to bottom review and edit. Finally, before being submitted to CAIS and WASC, in December 2018, the document was revised and edited a final time by Hillary Katz.

The February 2019 visit went well. The administration, board, and Steering Committee hosted a reception for the visiting team on their first night to get introduced

and show them around campus. During the week, the team visited classrooms and interviewed faculty, staff, administration, and the board regarding their self-study chapters. We had a special assembly for the visiting team and our school mascot, Feathers, paid a visit!

The accreditation team cited 30 “notable strengths”. Among them: our mission statement change that involved all constituents and included an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion; our financial stability; and adding more learning support for our students. The team had given major recommendations for growth, including having faculty and administration design a system of assessment for student learning and adding communications staff to enhance our presence on social media and in other areas. The commendations and recommendations aligned with almost all of what was reflected in our self-study. We are now anticipating that Carey will be accredited for a full seven year term.

A big thank you to faculty, staff, administration, and the board for their time and hard work in making the self-study and the accreditation visit a success.

“We are now anticipating that Carey will be accredited

for a full seven year term.”

By Audra Carli

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A Day in the Life of The Carey School Garden By Helen Lew

8:00 a.m. Before the school day begins, our students

can be seen practicing mindfulness as they

meditate in the garden. The garden provides a

place of rest, healing and meditation.

What grows in our Garden?

6:00 a.m. Before the sun rises,

our critter cam captures footage of ravens,

racoons and squirrels looking for grubs, seeds

and food in the garden.

A Haven for Experiential Learning:

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The Carey School garden offers a place to enrich teaching efforts with powerful hands-on experiences that make learning come alive. It is a place to explore, create, reflect, taste and engage. From reading to science, math to nutrition, every subject can be taught in this dynamic space. With tree stumps as chairs, clipboards as desks and the garden as a classroom, the school’s curriculum comes to life!

10:00 a.m. Children harvest mint,

stevia, lemon balm and other herbs from the garden

and steep them in a cup of hot water and enjoy the

warmth and comfort of their own special

concoctions.

12:00 p.m. Students enjoy a variety of

activities in the garden during lunch, including making the perfect mud pie with a mixture of clay, gravel,

straw and dirt from the hillside. They make stone ground cornmeal from dried corn, veggie wraps with fava beans and jump from hay bale to

hay bale, looking for praying mantis and ladybugs.

2:00 p.m. Our 3rd grade students

are our “Worm Ambassadors”. In collaboration with our

science teachers, our students learn about red wiggler worms

and create bins to house, feed and hydrate

thousands of worms.

4:00 p.m. At the end of our day,

our Extended Care students unwind on

the adirondack chairs and catch up on some

reading.

12:20 p.m.The Garden Team leads the children in a garden

based lesson. Often these lessons involve learning

about nutrition and cooking simple foods such as brussels

sprouts, kale chips, pesto, smoothies and a variety

of salads.

Apples PomegranatePersimmonsLemonsFingerling limesBerries

BeansTomatoesKaleLettuceHerbsEdible flowers

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From the Deskof Ida Gruber

Hello from the Admissions Department at Carey where I just �nished my second year as the Director of

Admission and Financial Aid. In its 90th year, The Carey School continues to be a sought after educational choice for parents of Pre-K

and elementary school aged children on the peninsula. This past admission season, we made a few

changes to our events and were very pleased with the results. The Prospective Parent Curriculum NightThe Prospective Parent Curriculum Night, previously held in January, was moved to November in an

e�ort to facilitate early interest among prospective families. All of our specialist and integration teachers

shared information about their program with our prospective parents in a panels style format.

Additionally, one classroom for grades one through �ve was open for parents to explore. The change in

date was successful in that we saw increased attendance and received positive feedback from

prospective and current families.Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten Open HouseWe held Carey’s �rst ever Open House for prospective families with children interested in

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. On a Saturday morning in early December, we opened up the

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms for families to visit. Our early childhood teachers, current

parents, and 20 4th and 5th grade student ambassadors were on campus to speak with prospective

parents and students. We had over 100 people in attendance. The stars of the show were our fantastic

4th and 5th grade student ambassadors who engaged easily and appropriately with prospective

students and parents, sharing their positive experiences at Carey. Our students were happy to utilize

their buddy skills with our youngest visitors, and everyone had a great time exploring inside and

outside the classroom! The intent of both of these events was to present key information to prospective parents early in the

admissions process. Based on direct feedback and increased applications, both events had a positive

impact – thank you again to everybody who volunteered their time to participate.

Carey continues to set a high bar for elementary education and we do this by a culture of continuous

improvement. As the admission season winds down, this is the time that we review our successes and

re�ect upon areas for growth. I’m already looking forward to introducing The Carey School to more families interested in independent

elementary education!

Sincerely,

Ida Gruber

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Admission by the Numbers

• We received an increase in applications for both Pre-K and Kindergarten with an impressive 30% increase in applications for Kindergarten.

• We are thrilled to have 49 new students joining us this fall, Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade.

• Our new incoming students are coming to us from 15 cities on the peninsula and across the bay.

• They represent 34 different preschools and elementary schools.

A reception welcoming the families of our newest students held this Spring.

Hello from the Admissions Department at Carey where I just �nished my second year as the Director of

Admission and Financial Aid. In its 90th year, The Carey School continues to be a sought after educational choice for parents of Pre-K

and elementary school aged children on the peninsula. This past admission season, we made a few

changes to our events and were very pleased with the results. The Prospective Parent Curriculum NightThe Prospective Parent Curriculum Night, previously held in January, was moved to November in an

e�ort to facilitate early interest among prospective families. All of our specialist and integration teachers

shared information about their program with our prospective parents in a panels style format.

Additionally, one classroom for grades one through �ve was open for parents to explore. The change in

date was successful in that we saw increased attendance and received positive feedback from

prospective and current families.Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten Open HouseWe held Carey’s �rst ever Open House for prospective families with children interested in

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. On a Saturday morning in early December, we opened up the

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms for families to visit. Our early childhood teachers, current

parents, and 20 4th and 5th grade student ambassadors were on campus to speak with prospective

parents and students. We had over 100 people in attendance. The stars of the show were our fantastic

4th and 5th grade student ambassadors who engaged easily and appropriately with prospective

students and parents, sharing their positive experiences at Carey. Our students were happy to utilize

their buddy skills with our youngest visitors, and everyone had a great time exploring inside and

outside the classroom! The intent of both of these events was to present key information to prospective parents early in the

admissions process. Based on direct feedback and increased applications, both events had a positive

impact – thank you again to everybody who volunteered their time to participate.

Carey continues to set a high bar for elementary education and we do this by a culture of continuous

improvement. As the admission season winds down, this is the time that we review our successes and

re�ect upon areas for growth. I’m already looking forward to introducing The Carey School to more families interested in independent

elementary education!

Sincerely,

Ida Gruber

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Professional development for teachers is more than units to show growth or

classes that keep us current. Carey educators love being with our students,

but when teachers get to learn from experts, they have the chance to

deepen their knowledge, learn new techniques and focus on pedagogy

and curriculum. For Carey teachers, spending time immersed in topics

that pique their passion for teaching leaves them reenergized. The

People of Color Conference (PoCC), a professional development event

put on by the National Association of Independent School (NAIS),

is a true refueling for teachers. The mission of this multi-day event

as described by NAIS is to “provide a safe space for leadership and

professional development and networking for people of color and

allies of all backgrounds in independent schools.” PoCC is a unique

opportunity for attendees, especially teachers of color, to connect

with other independent school educators, explore their own

identities within their communities and engage deeply around

the topics of interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in

our schools.

Our Faculty Attends the People of Color Conference in Nashville

By Neely Norris

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Daniel Chanin, 5th Grade Teacher

For the second straight

year, The People of Color

Conference left me energized,

inspired, and reminded of the

work that needs to be done

with diversity and inclusion.

As teachers, we owe it to our

students to always push ourselves to add books to our

library that are fully representative of the world that we

live in. As employees, we owe it to our colleagues to be

more aware of all of their perspectives, customs, and

experiences. As people, we owe it to our community to

truly find a way to talk about the issues concerning race,

gender, religion, and sexual orientation rather than to

simply pass these topics over because it might be more

convenient to pretend that the real world’s diversity does

not exist. At PoCC, I was reminded of the importance of

diving in as I was exposed to videos, music, and even

board games that captured engaging ways to make

students more aware of privilege as well as systematic

racism and sexism. PoCC is a combination of a breath of

fresh air and an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

There is so much work to be done, but the work ahead

could not be more invaluable!

Mark Bevan, 2nd Grade Teacher

This was my first time at The

People of Color Conference

and it was fantastic. Such an amazing

sanctuary for a group of diverse people who

work in independent schools to recharge,

connect and have all selves present; and an

incredible space for allies to improve our

work. From the affinity group discussions on

dignity, to the workshops and lectures, to the

connecting at lunch; this conference is raw

and intelligent. I deeply appreciate the Carey

School’s commitment to sending faculty and

staff to PoCC, where folks are strengthened for

pushing back on the systemic racist processes.

Facu

lty Te

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ls

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Danitra Nash, 4th Grade Teacher

I am thankful to have had the

opportunity to go to The

People of Color Conference.

I am encouraged and

inspired knowing that

Carey annually sends a strong representation. It was

incredible to participate in a variety of workshops

focused on topics such as student support, personal

well-being, and school climate. A supportive network of

presenters and peers affirmed what it means to not only

be a student of color in an independent school, but also

a teacher of color in an independent school. I learned

about identifying microaggressions and conformity to

structural biases that expect “toning down” of culture

in order to assimilate. I learned that to truly handle the

challenges we face requires recognizing we live in a

system hesitant to accept something different. What

I took back to students was a focus on continuing

inclusive and equitable support services for students

of color. I want to sustain a culture of equity that

encourages all students to be who they

are unapologetically.

Karena Martin, Kindergarten Teacher

Attending the People of Color

Conference was such a rich and

unique experience. PoCC equips educators at every

level, from teachers to trustees, with knowledge,

skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the

interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in

their schools.

Personally, attending different workshops expanded

my knowledge and provided a space to be a more

reflective practitioner. As an ally, I was able to think

more deeply about the multiple roles that I hold

within the school as a teacher and as a colleague,

especially when it comes to truly listening and

acknowledging the experiences of our students and

teachers of color. This conference is critical to the

growth and support of our faculty, staff, students, and

our Carey Community.

Facu

lty Te

stim

onia

ls

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Shaylona Wheeler, 3rd Grade Assistant Teacher

Attending The People of Color Conference

has made me more aware of the progress

The Carey School has made over the two

year span that I have been here. I enjoyed

going to workshops, like the Biases and Balance, which supported

ideas of identifying and supporting learning challenges in

students of color. I believe, as educators, we need to continue

recognizing the bias we have when we address and monitor

students of color. I feel as a teacher, specifically an African

American woman, that we are prepackaged with responsibilities

to reveal and dispute debilitating biases and micro-aggressions

every day, while simultaneously, creating full body armor that

endures misconceptions and stereotypes that come along with

being black. At the conference, I constantly reflected on how I can

implement more strategies in the classroom. I appreciate Carey

for letting me go to this professional development opportunity. It

was very inspiring and has allowed me to embrace more strategies

(comfortably) to implement in curriculum planning that will

support a multicultural and diverse classroom.

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WORLD LANGUAGE WEEK A time-honored tradition, World Language week brings our

curriculum to life and allows our students to travel in time while experiencing the rich cultures of the world around them. This year’s theme was Fairytales & Folklore. Our World Language team of teachers worked closely to create an experiential and dynamic schedule of activities. The week included lively assemblies, marionette performances, in-class puppet shows and an author visit. The week serves as an opportunity for students to showcase all their efforts, encourages participation across grades and brings a sense of immersion to our community.

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1919

ONE CAREY

What tools do we have available to us to gather intelligence on how we holistically or more fully understand others? How do we consciously or unconsciously navigate the relationships and interactions we have with members of our community? How might the conscious or unconscious unintentionally lead to positive connections with others or not? Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, OneCarey offered ways in which parents could discuss hidden or implicit bias and its impact on their individual and family experiences in the Carey community.

“Community Conversations” are education-based events hosted by the OneCarey Committee. Each year the committee hosts three conversations aimed to engage parents and faculty in small group discussions on a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) topic in the hopes of growing closer ties among the participants through an honest, trusting and safe space to share personal stories. This year’s topic of “hidden bias” was based on the book Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People, by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald.

Through these conversations, participants openly shared stories of the perspectives on bias they have experienced within the Carey community and their curiosity about how to move through

these moments they encounter. As a result of the conversations, true desire surfaced by participants to continue in their personal journeys to grow in the learning of how to respond in a moment when they experience and/or see bias, and goals for supporting

their children in their own practices. Some additional insights from these conversations included:

• The recognition that the biased statements coming from the unconscious can be hurtful and painful,

Fostering a Sense of Belonging Through Purposeful Conversations

especially when these comments are by people we identify as friends.

• Parents had a strong desire to continue their personal work. They expressed a willingness to step into a space with others to call them out on microagressions and engage in the moment of discomfort. They also expressed openness to try to figure out how to address that which is uncomfortable with courage, positivity and goodwill.

• Participants shared feeling microaggressions that were centered around race, economic status, gender, family structure and employment.

As we begin to turn our attention to the next school year, we are poised to finish our work on the current OneCarey Action Plan, and are excited by the opportunity to develop a new action plan based on the strategic plan of The Carey School. We also hope, through the education-based events we host through community conversations, along with other work across the school, we can help provide tools for parents to continue in their personal and family work in their DEI journeys. As we collectively deepen our connections as individuals and families, we hope to build the kind of authentic belonging we yearn for within our community.

By Heidi Chang

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ONE CAREY

By Mark Bevan

Members of OneCarey:

Co-Chairs: Mark Bevan (teacher, parent, K) and Heidi Chang (board, parent, 2, 5)

Parents: Ajit Bharwani (1,4), Marcie Low-Toy (1, 3), Julie Sherman (2, 5), Maya Tussing-Adkinson (5)

Teachers: Christyn Marshall-Ramirez (1, parent, 2), Lyly Pham (3), Dayna Shon (music)

Administration: Ida Gruber (Director of Admissions), Tracy White (Director of Development)

Board: Curt Metzger (2), Consuela Stewart (K, 1)

Ex-Officio: Duncan Lyon (Head of School), Gary Kiang (Board President), Lily Ng (CSPA President)

As a final gathering of all grade levels, parents, extended/chosen family and our whole community, the Operetta is a wonderful moment of Carey community gathering. We gather to witness the hard work and dedication that the students have poured into their performance. We cheer and revel as students showcase their talents and reenact a story for the audience, who is filled with loved ones. Meanwhile, each year there are also hidden messages within that story that are being shared with the whole community. Some of these messages are intentional; some are not. Some are purposefully kind and uplifting; some are accidentally unkind and perpetuating of stereotypes. As consumers of the story, we also consume these messages and internalize their meaning without awareness and without choice. That’s why the school is initiating a yearly practice where students of all grade levels will get

the opportunity to discuss and unearth messages within the story chosen for the Operetta. Classes will look at both positive messages and negative messages with an

actionable response of ‘I accept’ some of these messages being presented to me in this story, and ‘I reject’ others. As a school that promotes critical thinking and awareness of how we treat each other, this practice encourages our community to think about the messages around us. This awareness then creates the opportunity for individuals to choose whether to internalize those messages. This work will

be done each year prior to the Operetta performance so families can see the messages the school uncovered. That way, while families watch the performance, and while children perform in it, they can all choose which messages to internalize and which to reject. Awareness creates the opportunity to choose.

Taking a Closer Look at Operetta

“As a school that promotes critical thinking and awareness of how we as people treat each other, this practice encourages our community to think about the messages around us.”

Pictured from Left to Right: Mark Bevan, Marcie Low-Toy, Julie Sherman, Maya Tussing-Adkinson, Heidi Chang, Tracy White, Curt Metzger and Gary Kiang

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It all began 25 years ago as a simple thank you from the Head of School. The 1994 inaugural Spaghetti Feed was held in appreciation of the Carey School community. The woman behind the initiative was Virginia Taylor.

“Who was Virginia Taylor?” She’s not a former teacher or student, as many have assumed. She was an active room parent, member of the Board of Trustees and consummate Carey School fundraiser. Virginia was first introduced to the school while investigating education options for her niece. Her meeting with Bob Simpson, then Head of School, convinced Virginia that Carey would be the right school for her three children.

When Virginia’s children first entered Carey, the school was struggling financially. To boost revenue, a partnership of inspired fellow parents, faculty and administrators, helped develop more creative and effective fundraising events to keep the school solvent. It was then that a humble Halloween Carnival became Walkfest, one of Carey’s signature events today.

At the end of a successful school year, Simpson suggested a pot luck to thank the Carey community for their support. Taylor, an amateur chef, suggested a classic Italian dinner. She recruited a diverse team of parents to prepare all the food, beginning the day before at her house, parboiling twenty-two pounds of pasta. Guests brought either a bottle of wine or an appetizer in exchange for all-you-can-eat spaghetti, salad and garlic bread. “I cooked the pasta

ahead of time at my home with other parents,” said Virginia. “We would make our own sauce, too. Betty Angell did all the serving. It was just wild and so much fun!”

Today, the Spaghetti Dinner is still a fun, lively, end of year event for the Carey community to come together and celebrate, reconnect, and enjoy good company. The food is not prepared or cooked by parents, but rather by our hard-working school chefs, Rafa, Tia and Manuel. This year we were excited to introduce a few new twists to this event! In addition to spaghetti, we invited our community to bring in and share a variety of comfort foods from different cultures. We also invited The Carey School classes of 2012 and 2016 for a casual reunion to reconnect and share memories from their time at Carey. The idea is to revisit our school events and brainstorm new ways to bring families closer together and get to know each other in inclusive and fun ways.

Today, Virginia still lives in the Belmont home where she raised her family and is running the retirement plan consulting firm she founded almost 30 years ago. When asked to reflect on her children’s Carey experience, Virginia remarked that the personal bonds students forge at Carey are stronger than they may develop later in life. Her son is a testament to that, having served as best man at the wedding of a friend from Pre-K (and the friend reciprocated)! Furthermore, she said, “The focus of the school was always on kindness and inclusiveness. And when students graduated from Carey, they felt prepared for the academic challenges of middle school.”

The

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Maya-Tussing Adkinson and Virginia Taylor

By M

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1990’s

NOW

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The transition to middle school can be stressful. With both anticipation and excitement, Carey 5th graders move out of the nest and on to new places. We hope to help with the transition each year by hosting an Alumni Night where our current middle school students come back for an opportunity to answer questions from our 5th graders about the middle school experience. Students have so many questions, ranging from “What are lockers like?” to “What time do you have to wake up?” and “Is it easy to make friends?” It is a lively and fun event for everyone who attends, and gives an opportunity for students to mingle, reunite and provide invaluable advice.

This year, in addition to middle school students who gave advice and answered questions from our 5th graders, we selected 6th and 7th grade speakers who presented to their peers regarding middle school expectations. Also new this year, we included a 20-minute session, facilitated by Lindsay Folk, Gary Kiang and Julie Lee, current parents

to the NestBringing Them Back

Highlights from our Annual Alumni Night

and Board members, with the intent of having our alumni students help provide feedback for our 2019-2024 strategic plan. As we look to define the strategy and direction of the school, seeking input to define requirements is a top priority. This interactive session with the Carey alumni helped us understand their thoughts and input on one of our strategic goals around middle school readiness. We were eager to learn from the people who most recently experienced this transition. Some of the topics included:

• Overall transition to middle school

• Organization and homework systems

• Monitoring and taking responsibility for grades

• Self-regulating emotions

• Working in teams and negotiating conflict

• Carey School competencies

By Tracy White

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What did our returning alumni panelists have to say about The Carey School?

1. What is the one thing that you miss most about Carey and what is your favorite class/grade memory? What I miss most about Carey are the teachers. The teachers always showed me that they cared about my learning and wanted everyone to succeed. My favorite memory is from 5th grade when we went to Vans

because we all sat together as a class, ate lunch, and created enjoyable memories of our last days at Carey.

2. If there was one event you would like to come back to Carey for, what would it be?

If I could come back to Carey for one event it would be for the overnight field trip to Coloma. Coloma was one of my fondest memories because my classmates and I really connected during this trip. 3. If you were a class ambassador for Carey at your current school, what would

be the two things you would like to talk about most with your Carey friends/alumni at your school? If I was a class ambassador for Carey at Crocker, I would say that Carey taught us a lot about current events and issues in our world. Carey also did a wonderful job of integrating social emotional learning into its curriculum.

4. What are you excited about in middle school and what’s your favorite class?What excites me about middle school at Crocker is that you have more independence with your learning. For example, you can choose your own electives, join the student body, or be a web leader. You also learn to be in charge of your learning by making sure your assignments have been completed on time and turned in. My favorite class at Crocker is social studies because the teacher incorporates engaging activities into our lessons and also lets his students write a report card on his teaching.5. Would you have any suggestions for our alumni get togethers at Carey? One idea I have for alumni get togethers is an alumni basketball game.

Jordana Lenihan

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Isabelle Chiang1. What is the one thing that you

miss most about Carey and what

is your favorite class/grade

memory?

I miss the tight-knit community

the most. We had small classes where

you could have a personal connection with your teachers. My fondest

memory was the Maker Faire. The year I was in 5th grade was the first

year the school held this event.

2. If there was one event you would like to come back to Carey for, what would it

be?

Spaghetti Dinner is a lot of fun. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with your

former classmates and enjoy good food!

3. If you were a class ambassador for Carey at your current school, what would

be the two things you would like to talk about most with your Carey friends/

alumni at your school?

I would definitely promote Maker Faire and Operetta.

4. What are you excited about in middle school and what’s your favorite class?

I am excited to be paired up with my “little sis” who is entering 6th grade

in the fall. This is a mentorship program at Castilleja and it’s going to be a

lot of fun to share advice and help make an incoming 6th grader feel as

comfortable as possible in their new environment.

My favorite class is science. I am excited for Explo, which is kind of like the

Maker Faire at Carey. We work on a science project of choice in a group

where we ask a question, construct a hypothesis, create a procedure, test

our theory, analyze our data, and form a conclusion. At the end of this

project, we present our findings to friends and family.

5. Would you have any suggestions for our alumni get-togethers at Carey?

For our get-togethers, I would recommend asking about our experiences

at our middle school and asking what we are excited for in 8th grade. I

would also leave time for us to just chat with our friends.

Andrew Pepper1. What is the one thing that you miss

most about Carey and what is your favorite class/grade memory? The one thing that I miss the most about Carey are the great friends and teachers I experienced. My favorite grade was third grade and earning “Geer Cheers” each week from Mr. Geer. Fun Friday with Mrs. Zirelli was the best too!

2. If there was one event you would like to come back to Carey for, what would it be?

I enjoy coming back for Spaghetti Dinner. It’s a great time to see old classmates and family friends. I also like picking my sisters up from school when I have days off. It’s fun to see all my old teachers.3. If you were a class ambassador for Carey at your current school, what would be the two things you would like to talk about most with your Carey friends/alumni at your school?

I would talk about all of our great teachers and fun class trips like Coloma.4. What are you excited about in middle school and what’s your favorite class?

I enjoy more independence in Middle School. We have a lot of free time throughout our daily schedule to work with teachers or finish our homework. My favorite class is science because the teacher is awesome.5. Would you have any suggestions for our alumni get togethers at Carey?

It would be fun to have an alumni Pauline Murray Sports Day!

More alumni panelists Q & A

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Myra MalikI loved attending Carey! The academics were adjustable to any student’s needs, helping all students to learn equally. In Carey’s inclusive and safe community, everyone felt comfortable sharing their opinions and strengthening their voice inside and outside of the classroom. Everyone was very friendly when I first arrived in 4th grade. I was the only new kid, and yet I was able to make friends easily and had the support of all my teachers. I loved Carey’s friendly, amicable community which embraced all backgrounds.

Although I only went for 4th and 5th grade, Carey has left a lasting impact on me, prepared me well for middle school and continues to affect me going into high school. In Ms. Bloom’s class in 5th grade, I adopted study skills which would stay with me any time I had a test or quiz in the following years. I also was exposed to Speech and Debate for the first time, which I still continue today in my school’s debate team. At Carey, I made friends who I still talk to today. I created lasting relationships with teachers and friends alike, which affected my growth as a member of the community. I especially remember the fall play and Operetta as landmarks for my love of theater.

I currently go to Crystal Springs Uplands School in Belmont. At school, I play volleyball and dance, along with participating in plays and musicals. I also enjoy English and science. Outside of school, I love drawing, painting, and sculpting. I play piano and I indulge in baking and sewing in my free time. Additionally, I am a member of my school’s Parliamentary debate team, in which we learn about current and past world issues, along with

the histories of nations and their conflicts. We go on to compete in tournaments around the Bay Area. Over the summer, I attended a week at the Stanford National Forensic Institute at an intensive debate camp. It helped my debate skills immensely and has since grown my love for it.

Previously, I have participated in Carey’s Caring at Carey volunteering in Bay Area schools. I have also volunteered at a girls’ school over the summer in Karachi, Pakistan. The summer camp was to expose the girls in the camp to visual arts, specifically watercolor painting. I enjoyed teaching them and their joy during and after learning was priceless. It was an unforgettable experience that I would be happy to do again! This summer, I hope to begin volunteering at a local hospital to learn about the field of working in medicine. Because I am interested in entering that career field in the future, I believe that a

volunteer experience will educate me about the career. I want to enter medicine to be able to provide affordable healthcare to the highest-risk members of society while maintaining a quality approach to everyone.

I have loved all aspects of middle school. My school, Crystal Springs Uplands School, is academically rigorous and adaptable to any student. My teachers have always been supportive and ready to help, whether it is with an easy homework assignment or the end-of-year final tests. Crystal’s community is friendly and inclusive and I find new friends easily, even in people I have never talked to before. Our grade is very close, which I know many people appreciate. I also love the arts and sports here, which offer a wide variety of extracurriculars. I especially enjoy visual arts and volleyball, but there are sports and arts options for any and every student. For high school, I am excited to pursue new areas in the arts, such as photography and design. I am also very excited to meet new people joining my grade.

“Although I only went for 4th and 5th grade, Carey has left a lasting impact on me which prepared me well for middle school and continues to affect me going into high school.”

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2010

Sophie White Sophie is a Management & Entrepreneurship major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a minor in digital studies. She recently ran two half marathons and is going to be studying abroad in Paris next spring. She is in a consulting club that works with start-ups in Israel, getting great hands on experience of working with a company to make them better. She is also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma as the Phi Gamma Nu professional organization. Her favorite memory of Carey was Spaghetti Dinner because it was always such a warm and fun event!

Class Notes1999

Brian Nichols Brian and his wife (who attended Baywood Elementary) welcomed a baby girl named Lily into their family in September of 2018. Two of his best friends to this day went to The Carey School. Two of his groomsmen (Matt Thiry and Geoff Taylor) were in his Pre-K class. His favorite Carey memory was the Walkathon.

2013

Drew Dowd Drew is a junior at Serra High School in San Mateo. He played Varsity baseball as a sophomore ad has verbally committed to play baseball at Stanford (Class of 2024)! He was named a 2nd Team Pre-Season All American by Rawlings baseball. His favorite memory of Carey was Walkfest because he has never had so much fun running!

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2015 Connor Bottoms Connor had a great first year at Serra High School, where he pitched for the Freshman Baseball team. He loves being next door to Carey! Connor is looking forward to a fun summer ahead on a baseball team that will have him playing in tournaments around California.

Calvin Mader-Clark Calvin played Varsity hoops for Hillsdale High, and was named Co-Most Outstanding Player as a freshman. He is LOVING his time there! He is also playing club ball with Garret Keyhani (also Class of 2015)...the twin towers! His favorite memory from Carey were Friday Fun Days with Mrs. Zirelli!

Tucker Gold Tucker Gold is heading to the Cannes Film Festival. Tucker appeared as the lead character in a short film that has been nominated in the Emerging Filmmaker competition held at the American Pavilion during Cannes. He is a freshman at Menlo School.

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2016

Isabella Murphy After three great years at Sea Crest School in Half Moon Bay, Isabella is excited to share that she has enrolled in Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco for high school! Go Tigers! Isabella enjoys Theatre Arts, Math and English. When asked about her favorite Carey memory she said, “So many come to mind but the

Operetta and Spaghetti dinner are stand outs for the great sense of community!”

Evie Moore Evie is excited to attend high school at Stevenson School, a co-ed boarding school in Pebble Beach, CA.

Olivia Cotton Olivia Cotton is entering Notre Dame Belmont for high school. While theatre, traveling abroad, and socializing with friends are still top of her list, she looks forward to cheering for the Notre Dame Tigers in 2019 as part of their Spirit Squad.

2017

Cadence Liu Cadence currently attends Woodside Priory where she enjoys playing in a wind symphony and speaking Mandarin with her polylingual Spanish teacher. In the entirety of this school year, she will have performed 4 times in school bands, 5 times in outside ensembles, once alone, auditioned for 3 orchestras and entered a music competition.

Her favorite Carey memory was learning the national anthem in sign language in first grade.

Olivia Cruz Olivia attends Abbott Middle School where she plays volleyball. Her favorite Carey memory is outdoor ed because they went on a night hike!

2018

Tate Bottoms Tate loved his 6th grade year at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School, where he enjoyed all of his middle school classes, the overnight sailing trip on the Bay and participated in many of the school sports.

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Flying EaglesThe Carey School has given Quinn, Tanner and Shep a wonderful foundation to their lifelong pursuit of learning. We believe in the mission of the school and feel grateful that they have indeed become curious, confident and joyful learners. As parents, Matt and I are thankful to be a part of this nurturing and caring community and are pleased to join the Flying Eagles Community to give in a meaningful way to our next generations of families.

Matt and Lindsay Folk, Quinn ‘18, Tanner ’21, Shep ‘22

Flying Eagles as of May 2019 include:

• Mary T. Carey (deceased)

• Clare Carey Willard (deceased)

• Eric Temple and Garry Shermann

• Michael and Betsy Berman

• Mark and Sandy Moore

• Darren and Devon Gold

• Robert and Karina Dykes

• Jon and Cristal Waldrop

• Duncan Lyon and Veronica Agosta

• Matt and Lindsay Folk

A Flexible Way to Support The Carey School

EASY: A few sentences in your will or living trust complete the gift.

TAX WISE: Your estate may be entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction.

VERSATILE: Donors have options. You may:

• bequeath a specific item• pledge a specific dollar amount• gift a percentage of your estate• make a contribution that is

contingent upon certain events

PERSONAL: You can pledge in any way that feels right to you. For example, to build our endowment to provide sustained strength, or for financial aid so that future families may have the same experience you have had. It can also be an open gift, inviting future leaders to direct it to the best needs of the day.

REVOCABLE: Until your will or trust goes into effect, you are free to alter your plans.

Gift Planning at Carey

Planned gifts are not just for the wealthy, and can work for families of all ages. We are happy to speak with you about how to help create a plan for your family while making a meaningful and lasting commitment to The Carey School.

If you are interested in learning more about planned giving at The Carey School, please contact our Advancement Office at advancement@careyschool.org.

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CLAS

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F 20

19 G

RAD

UATE

S

Linnea Agosta-Lyon

Sophie Avila

Thomas Bala Andrew Baum Sidney Berk Sofie Budman Miguel Espinosa Karlie Gabriel

Henry Gardner JP Gibbs Gabrielle Goldfarb William Haas Petra Hennessy Sadie Hubbard

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Elias Jimenez John Kennish Alexandra Kiang Chiara Luey Georgia Melvin Niam Namburi

Molly O’Neill Alexander Osterloh Katherine Pepper Nikko Perez Grace Powers Eli Price

Bridger Quarles Jacob Rossman Zaiden Saberi Benjamin Schwartz Lily Selcher Jackson Sherman

Saurav Shroff Declan Sitter Reese Taylor Devon Tussing-Adkinson Rocco Vitale Qingyang Wu

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NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

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The Carey School

Save the Date! Sunday November 10, 2019!Get ready to run! We look forward

to seeing you at Walkfest!Copyright © 2019 The Carey School. All rights reserved.Printed on recycled paper.